Metering fluid feeding device



Dec. 26, 1933. C J, c cK AL 1,940,793

METERING FLUID FEEDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 6, 1928 I5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TORJ 5? W cLATTORNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1933 METERING FLUID FEEDING DEVICE Charles James Eacock and Claude H. Clauser,

Kansas City, Mo.; Celeste H. Clauser administratrix of said Claude H. 'Clauser, deceased Our invention relates to improvements in fluid feeding devices and more particularly to means for feeding a fluid such as a lubricating medium under pressure automatically in direct proportion to the movement of the operating parts of a member with which the device is associated, and is particularly an improvement over the fluid feeding devices disclosed in our application for Patent Serial No. 251,881, filed February 4, 1928.

It is a purpose of our invention to provide fluid feeding means of the above mentioned character that is particularly adapted for use as a 1ubricat ing device and which is so constructed as to economize on the amount'of lubricant dispensed to each of the parts to be lubricated by supplying the proper amount of lubricant to the parts but not a needless excess and which can be made at a relatively small cost.

Our invention comprises a comparatively sim ple construction which is strong and durable and which is automatic in operation, feeding or supplying the lubricant or other fluid in direct proportion -to the movement of the parts 'of the mechanism withwhich the same is associated. It is furthermore an object of the invention to provide a device of this character that is adapted to be associated with a reservoir or other con tainer for lubricant or-other fluid andv to use a plurality of said feeding devices obtaining the supply of lubricant from a common reservoir to lubricate a plurality of parts with lubricant from the same reservoir.

It is a further object of thisinventionYto provide new and improved means for producing the reciprocatory movement of the feeding member, the movement being initiated by the moving part or parts of the member with which the feeding device is associated, the reciprocatory movement of the feeding member being proportional to the movement of the parts with which the device is associated. v

The means for producing the reciprocatory movement of the feeding member is so constructed that the actuating mechanism for producing a measured movement of the feeding member in proportion to the movement of the parts with which the device is associated is positive in operation so that even a small movement of the parts struction and is so made thatmetal stampings may be used for the parts thereof, whereby a low cost of manufacture results. I

Our improved feeding device is also adapted for operating in other positions than an upright position and is so constructed that all the moving parts are engaged by the fluid which may be utilized to lubricate the same.

It is a further purpose of our invention to provide-a fluid feeding device of the above men-' tioned character that is so constructed that the feeding device, itself, may be used as a swivel connection in a pipe line where all the fluid feeding devices are supplied with a fluid, such as lubricant, from a'central reservoir. In this form of the invention the one pipe connection of the joint is made with the casing memberof the device and the other pipe connection of the joint is made with the base member of the device. 7 he feeding mechanism used in this form of the invention is of a type that is now preferred and which is of universal application, being adapted to be used with a single fluid feeding device that has no connection with any other fluid feeding device, as well as with the type of fluid feeding device forming the swivel joint or in "any other fluid'feeding device adapted for use in connection with a piping system leading from a central source'of supply. In this form of the invention the operating mechanism has been standardized so that only slight variations therein are necessary to adapt the same toall theuses thereof, and the principal difference between the different applications thereof is in the external connections provided.

It is an important purpose of our invention to provide a fluid feeding systemsuch as a lubricating system in which the lubricant is distributed from a central reservoir to the various points at, which the lubricant is to be fed to the,

parts to be lubricated and in which the lubricant is distributed to such points at a low pressure and fed to the parts to be lubricated at a highp'ressure. More particularly our invention comprises a lubricating system in which the lubricant is piped from a reservoir to the parts that are to be lubricated by gravity or at a low pressure and supplied to our improved feeding devices which feed the lubricant at a high pressure to the parts to be lubricated, thus providing a system in which there is no high pressure distribution whatsoever.

By providing the individual feeding devices a further advantage is obtained, whereby a system maybe provided in which the lubricant is supplied, through a piping system, at substantially a uniform very low pressure and is fed to the be adjusted to give the desired pressure at the outlet thereof by varying the tension on the springs therein or the size thereof and by varying the feeding stroke or size of the plunger.-

Thus, each individual feeding device may have its spring means and plunger arranged so as to obtain the desired amount and pressure of lubricant with each feeding stroke.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear as the description of the drawings proceed. We desire to have it understood, however, that we do not intend to. limit ourselvesto the details of structure shown or described, but that we intend to'include as part of our invention all such obvious changes and modifications of parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings: I Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through one form of our improved fluid feeding device.

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof taken at right angles to Fig. 1, substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the follower bar being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

, Fig. 4 is a. section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an end view on a smaller scale of the feeding device as viewed from the lower end of Fig. 2.

I Fig. 6 is a side view thereof.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of'the cam. 1 Fig. 8 is a perspective of the plunger rod detached. 1

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2 through another form of our improved fluid feeding device, showing the type of feeding mechanism at present preferred. V

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 10-1 0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional .view similar to Fig. 2 of a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 9.

' Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the steering mechanismof an automobile, showing our improved lubricating system applied thereto.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary View partly in section andpartly in perspective 'of the steering pitman arm, drag link and adjoining parts of the steer ing mechanism and frame of an automobile 'showing our-i improved lubricating, system applied thereto. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the steering lever, andknuckle' and associated parts. v r a Y .Fig. 16 is aview taken substantially at right angles to Fig. 15, the front axle being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevation of the front end of the drag link and the steering lever, and t Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the variation in pressures and quantity of lubricant that may be supplied to various parts from the same low pressure supply.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Figs. 1

to 8, inclusive, showing one form of our invention, a fluid feeding device is shown which comprises a casing 20 of cup-like form having an integral end wall 21 and having a disk-like member 22 secured thereto by crimping the edges of ,the cup-like member 20 around the circumferential edge of the member 22 to clampsaid edge in the groove 23 formed by the outwardly directed offset 24 and the inturned flange -25 provided on the casing member 20. A base member 26, having' an externally screw-threaded portion 27 thereon for connection with any suitable device that is to be lubricated, is provided to cooperate with the casing 20. The base member 26 is provided with an enlargement 28 having fiat faces thereon for engagement by means of a wrench or other tool for turning the same. Said member 26 is provided with a hub portion 29 and the disk-like member 22 is provided with an annular portion 30 that is rotatably mounted on the hub portion 29. Inwardly of the hub portion 29 is a smaller hub portion 31 and the said member 26 terminates at the end thereof in an externally screw-threaded portion 32 upon which the tubular guide member 33 is screw-threadedly mounted.

A driving clutch disk 34 is mounted on the closure disk 22 to rotate or oscillate therewith, being pressed upon the annular flange 30, said clutch disk 34 being shown more in detail in Fig. 4 and being provided with the curved cam faces 35 which are curved on a gradually decreasing radius of curvature from the periphery of the disk 34 to the shoulders 36 thereon. A cam member '37 which is made up of a cylindrical wall portion 38 and a cam surface forming flange 39 is mounted in the casingZO and the ball members 40 are mountedbetween the cylindrical wall portion 38 of said cam member 3'7 and the cam faces 35 of the clutch disk 34. Coil springs 41 are mounted between the balls 40 and the shoulders 36.

Referring to Fig. 4, it Will be seen that inasmuch as.the surface 35 approaches the member 38 in a clockwise direction, rotation of the disk in a counter-clockwise direction will wedge the balls 40 between the cylindrical wall portion 38 of the clutch member 37 and the cam face35 of the disk 34, the balls being held in position ready for engagement with the member Baby the springs 41. As a result a counter-clockwise movement of the disk-like member 34 will immediately cause the cam member 37 to be carried along with the disk-like member 34 in a counter-clockwise direction.

The holding clutch disk 42 is mounted in fixed position on the hub portion 31by apressing operation and is furthermore held in such position by the clamping engagement of theend wall of the tubular guide member 33 with. the holding on the'disk 42, being held in engagement with the faces 43 and the cylindrical portion'38 by means of the coil springs 46 mounted between the shoulders 42 and the balls. The disk 42 being stationary or fixed relatively to the member 26,

The holding clutch disk anytendency of the cam member sm te-rotate in a clockwise direction will causethe balls 45 'to wedge between the-cylindrical wall portion 38 and thecam-faces 43 to hold-saidcammembenfiom= such clockwise-rotation;

It will accordingly be-seen, that arotation rela tive to the member 26 of the casing'20 in a-coun terclockwise direction will move the cam member-- STin'the samedirection through the same aro' as the member relativetothemember 26 but the rotation of the casing 20 in aclockwise-directionwill not cause thecam memberB'T'to-move at all, whereby the cam member 37 will move inexact proportion to'themovements of'theoasing 20 relative to the base member 26 whether the relative movement is an intermittent or a con stant' rotation or an oscillation; Theball anddisk clutch members "will respond to even the slightest movement of the parts tocause the camto move with the driving disk 34- in one direction and will beheld from a ny' movement, whatsoever, with the driving'disk- 34 relative to theholding disk 42 in the opposite direction. j a A washer 47' is mounted between the disks 34 and 42 to hold the balls-40 and 4-5and thesp'rings 41 and 46' in position and a, preferably, metallic washer 48 is mounted within the cammember 3'? to hold the balls in position. The Washer 48 is associated with a wire screen member-49 which is flanged at 5'0 to receive the washer- 48 snugly within the same,- said washerand screen member being pressed into the cylindrical portion 38, of the cam 37 to hold thesame-in-position therein so that the screen 49 and the washer 48 will rotate with the cammember 3'7. The member 22, the disk 34 and the washer 47 are thus confined between the enlargement 28- 'on the member 25 and the disk 42. Said screen'member 49 is provided with a flange portion 5l'embracing the tubular guide member 43 and rotatable thereon. A fiber washer 52 is also provided between the member 26 and the closure disk22 to form a iiuid tight joint between the same.

The cam member 3'7, (see Fig. 7) is slit at diametrically opposite points of the flange portion 39 and the flange portion is formed so as to provide inclined cam faces 53 that lie diametrically opposite each other and extend upwardly from a low point 54 adjacent the abrupt shoulder55 formed at the slit portion of the flange to a high point 56 adjacent the diametrically opposite abrupt shoulder 55. Thus the cam surface provides two gradually inclined faces 53 arranged diametrically opposite each otherand two abrupt engaging with a cam and which may accordingly be termed a follower bar. The opposite ends of the bar 58 are cut away to form shoulders at 59 with which the coil spring 60 of relatively large size engages at one end thereof. The other end of the spring engages the end wall 21 of the casing 20 and also engages the closure or valve member fil having the offsetvalve or closure portion 62 provided thereon, aligning with the opening 63 in the end wall 21, said opening 63 being provided in an outwardly offset portion of the end wall 29 having a conical wall portion 64' with which the correspondingly shaped conical wall portion 65 of the closure 61 engages, due to the pressure of the spring 60, to'close the opening 63' fluid tight but permitting introduction of fluid through the opening SB-by'anysuitable means. The spring-60" also urges thecross-ban 58into .en-

gagement with thecamsurface. 63; said cross-bar be slidably received in the cylindrical bore in the tubular guide member 33. The upper and' lower surfaces 70 of the head 69-are curved onportions of spheres and the following bar 58 is provided with an opening 71 therein which is curvedon the same arcs as the upper and lower surfaces of" the head both lengthwise and cross-- wise thereof, as will-be clear from Figspl and 2.

The head 69 is mounted-within the opening in the bar 58 and'any movement-of the bar 58in thedirection of the axis of the plunger 68 will be transmitted to the plunger 68. g

Thus as thefollower bar 58 is'moved gradually toward the end wall 21 as thefoot portions66 thereof move upwardly along the inclined ca-m faces 53' during rotation of the cam 3Tthe plunger- 68 is" moved upwardly an amount in proportiontheretoa Such movement may be continuous or intermittent, depending upon the amount of movement of the casing 20 relative to the base member '26, but, in any event, this movement will continue until the highest point on the cam-faces 53 is reached, whereupon the-member 58 will drop oil the shoulders-'55 with a snap action; dueto the spring 60 and the plunger 68 will bemoved in a downward or feeding direction by snap; action. The movement of the "plunger is thus in direct" proportion to the movement ofthe member 20 relative to the member 26 during the return stroke thereof and a substantially instantaneous operation during the V feeding strolie thereof. The number of feeding movements of the'plunge'r' will accordinglybe directly proportion'ed to the movement of the memberZO relative to tlie member 26 and the fluid fed due to the movement of the plunger 68 will be measured in proportion to the movement of the member 28 relative to the member 26. 7

' The screen member 49 serves as a self-cleaning rotatable filtering means for. the'fluid, such as lubricant, to be fed by thedevice; The said fluid is contained withinthecasing 2G and is in engagement with all theworking partsof the de vice to lubricate the same. Thedisk' 42 is provided with an opening 72 and the washer '47 is 13.

provided with a central opening 73 overlapping the saine- The opening-72' also aligns with an opening 87 communicating with the transverse bore 7% provided in the member 26, said tran verse bore communicating with a cylindrical pasedge '75 in the base member 26 into which the plunger rod 68 is projected when the member 58 drops off the shoulders 55, saidrod 68 having a sliding fit in the passagei75. v 7

' The passage 75' leads into a largerpassage '76 in the base member 26 having aconical wall '77 therein againstwhich the ball'valve member 78 seats, said ball valve member being held in engagement with the seat by means of the coil spring 79 held under compression between theball '78 1,7,;

and the inwardly directed flange 80 on the mem-' ber 26. By providing the longitudinally and transversely curved surfaces 70 on the head 69;

' 2, 5 and 6 an arrangement accomplishing this is shown. The means shown comprises a ringlike member 81 which is made angular in cross section to provide a flange 82 and. is provided "the offset 24. The ring 81 is further provided with an outwardly directed arm 84 stamped from the same piece of metal as the ring. 81, which is connected with any desired member that moves 'relative to the bearing member or other member to which the basemember 26 may be secured.

Any movement of the arm 84 will move the ring 81 and carry the casing therewith.

Referring now to Figs. 9, 10 and 12, the form of the invention shown therein comprises a cas ing 120 of acup-like form having an integral end wall portion 121 and having a disk-like closure member 122 secured to the casing 120 by clamping the edges thereof along the circumferential edge of the member 122, to clip said edge in the groove 123 formed by means of the outwardly directed oiT-set 124 and theinturned flange 125 provided on the casing member 120. A base member 126 is provided with an externally screwthreaded portion 127 thereon forconnection withany suitable device that is to be lubricated, said base member cooperating with the casing 120. Mounted within thebase member 126 is a tubular member 128 upon which the sleeve 129 is mounted in fixed position. The disklike member 122 is somewhat dished in form and is provided with an inturned annular flange portion 130, rotatably mounted on the sleeve 129. The tubular member 128 is provided with a lateral annular enlargement 131 above the bearing sleeve 129 and with a tubular upper end portion 132 extending upwardly therefrom. The

inner edgeof the disk 134 adjacent the shoulders 136 to a point the farthest from said inner edge at the shoulders 136'. A cam member 137 is provided, which is made up of the cylindrical wall portion 138 having a cam surface provided on the edge portion thereof and a flange 139 extending inwardly from said cylindrical portion 138. Ballmembers 140 are mounted between the cylindrical wall portion 138 and the camfaces 135 of the clutch disk 134 and coil springs 141 aremounted between the ball members 140 and the end walls 136' provided in the-recesses formed in the inner periphery of the disk 134 to provide the cam faces135. v

Referring to Fig. 10 will be seen that in as much as the surface 135 of each.cam'-portion approaches the member 138 in a counter-clock- 1 ,940,7 93 bar 58 is adapted to rock slightly to permit both Wise direction, rotation of the disk 134 in a clockwise direction will wedge the balls 140 between the cylindrical wall portion 138 of the clutch member 137 andthe cam faces 135 of the disk 134, the balls being held in position ready for engagement with the member.138 by the springs 141. As a result, a clockwise movement of the disk-like member134 will immediately cause the cam member tobe carried along with the member 134 in a clockwise direction. I a

The flange 1390f the clutch member 137 is provided with recesses in the inner periphery thereof forming the cam faces 143 extending between the shoulders 142 and 144, the shoulders 142corresponding to-the shoulders 136 of the disk 134 and the shoulders 144 corresponding to the shoulders 136' onthe disk 134. The cam faces 143 are thus inclined in an opposite direction to the cam faces 185 on thedisk134., Balls 145 are mounted between the bearing-.member 129 and the cam faces 143 on the flange 139, being held in en gagement with the cam faces 143 and the cylindrical outer surface of the bearing member 129 by means of coil springs 146 mounted between the shoulders144 and balls 145. As the cam surfaces 143 approach the bearing member 129 in a clock- It will-accordingly be seen that a rotation relative to the base member-126 of the casing 120 in a clockwise direction will move the cam member 137 inthe same direction through the same areas themember 120 relative tothe member 126, but the rotation of the casing 120 in' a counter-clockwise direction relative to the base member 126 will not causethe cam member 137 to move at all, whereby the oam-member 137 will move in a constant direction in exact proportion to the movement ofthe casing 120 relative to the base member126, whether the relative movement is constant or intermittent in a predetermined direction or an oscillation. The ball and disk clutch members provided by the disk 134 and 'theflange 139 are responsive to 'even the slightest movement of the parts to cause the cam to move with the driving disk 134 in one direction and will be held from any movement whatsoever with the driving disk 134 relative to the bearing member 129 in the opposite direction.

The end of the bearing member 129 adjacent the lateral enlargement 131: in the tubular member 138is'bevelled as shown at 147. to permit the end portion of the member 129 to; engage snugly with the bottom wall 148 of the enlargement 131,

said wall portion 138 thus serving'to hold the ball members in position and locking the member 129 in fixed position between the member 126 and the wall 148. The washer 149, an-

gular in cross-section, is provided uponthe cylindrical portion 138 of the cam 13'? to hold the balls 140 in position. The tubular member 128 is provided with transversely aligning openings 150 therein thatalign with the passage 151 in the base member 1 28,,said passage 151' extending through the externally threaded tubular extens sion 152 onthe base member 126.

The upper edge portion of the cylindrical cam portion 138 of the cam member 137 is formed so as to provide the inclined cam faces 153 that shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, except that the same-are oppositely inclined, the same extending upwardly from a low point 15 1 to an abrupt shoulder 155 at the high point 156 thereof. Thus the cam surface comprises two gradually inclined faces 153 that lie diametrically opposite each other and two abrupt shoulders 155 forming duplicate cam members. 7 V

The upper tubular end portion 132 of the tubu lar member 128 is provided with a pair of oppositely arranged slots 157 through which the bar 158 extends, said bar 158 corresponding to the bar 58 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and-being of slightly different shape. The bar 158 is of sheet metal and the opposite ends thereof are cut away to form shoulders at 159 with which the coil spring 160 of relatively large size-engages at one end thereof. The other end of the spring 160 engages with theend wall 121 of the casing 120. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 9 no filler opening is provided in the casing 120 corresponding to that shown inFig. 2 but instead a laterally extending externally threaded nipple 161 is provided on the casing 120 with which the pipe section 162 is connected by means of a union 163 of any standard construction. The bar 158 is provided withsubstantially straight projecting foot portions 164 engaging with the cam faces provided on the upper edge of the cylindrical portion 138 of the cam 187, being held in engagement therewith by means of the coil spring 160, said cross bar thus serving as a follower bar or follower member engaging said cam.

Mounted within the tubular member 128 is a valve and pump body portion 165 having a head 166 on the outer endthereof and being provided with a-bore 167 therein, slidably receiving the plunger rod 168, said plunger rod having a-head 169 thereon corresponding to the head 69 on the plunger rod 68 and having curved surfaces 170 thereon engaging with the curved surface of the opening 171 in the follower bar 158,'the wall of the opening 171 being curved to correspond with the curvature of the upper and lower endof the head 169 in the same manner as in theform.

shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, and-havingthe same purpose as described inconnection therewith.

As the head 169 is mounted within the opening 171 in the bar 158 any movement of the bar 158' in the direction of the axis of the plunger 168 will be transmitted to said plunger. Thus, as the follower bar 158 is moved gradually toward the end wall 121 as the foot portions 16 1 thereof move upwardly along the inclined cam-faces1-53 during the rotation of the cam 137, the plunger 168 is moved upwardly an amount in proportion thereto. This movement willcontinue in a manner described in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, until the highest points on the cam faces 153 are reached, whereupon the member 158 will-drop'off the shoulders 155 with a-snap action due to-the pressure of the spring 160 and the plunger 168 will be moved in a downward or feeding direction by snap action. Thenumber of said movements of the plunger will=accordingly be directly proportional to themovement of the member 120 relative to the member 126, as previously described inconnection with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, and the amount of fluidfed through the bore 167 due to the movement of the plunger 168 will be in proportion to the movement of the member 120 relative to 'themember 1-26.

The fluid is free to pass in either direction from the pipe 162 to the tubular projection 152 through the casing 120,and the tubular member-128, due to the provision of the openings 156 in the tubuiar member 128; the upper end portion 172 of the. member 165 being reducedto provide an open-. 'ing through the tubular member l28aroundsaid member 165 to said openings 150. The reduced portion 172 of the member 165 is also provided with a transverse opening 174 aligning with the.

openings 156 and with arlongitudinal bore 175 aligning withthe bore 167, the opening 174 sup plying fluid to thebore 175.. The plunger rod 168 is projected into the bore- 175 in which it has a sliding fit when the follower member 158 drops off the shoulders-1550f the cam to feed the fluid into the enlarged passage 176 in the member 165.

The passage 176 has a conical end, wall 177 against which the ball-valve member 178 seats, sa d ball valve member being held in engagement with said seat by means of the coil spring 179 held under compression between the ball 178 and the inwardly directed flange 180 on the member 165. The head166 has a conical-surface 181 thereon and the base member 126 is bevelled at 182, the tubular member 128 being swedge'doutwardly therebetween to firmly hold the members 126, 128 and 165 in assembledrelation.

The rotation of the member 120 relative to the base 126 is accomplished due to relativemovement of the p pe section 162,- and the pipe section connectedwith the tubular'member 152, the pipe section 162 and the member 126 being car,- ri'ed bytwo relatively movableparts with which the fluid feeding device is associated. Referring now to Fig. '11 the internal structure of the. device is exactly the same asinqthe formshown in Figs. 9 10 and 12,ex'cept for certain minor changes referred to below, the principal parts'of the device being standardized and being interchangeable no matter whether the device is used with a central reservoir and the pipe arrangement shown inFig. 9, or some similar pipe arrangement with means for producing .rotation'of the casing relative to thebase that is independent of the piping means suchv as is shown in Fig, 11, or whether the casing tobe fed. This latter arrangement is shown in Fig. 11,in which the casing 120 is similar to the .casing .120, except that the filler opening serves as an independent reservoir for the fluid 184 is-provided in the outwardly off-set. portion of the end wall 121 having the conical wall portion 185 with which the similarly shapedclosure member 186 mountedon the arm 187, engages due to compression of the spring160, to close said opening. The base member 126, is merely provided with the longitudinal passage through the same into which the tubular member 128 fits, and is providedwith an externally threaded nipple 127 forsecuring the base 126 to any device to which fluid such as-lubricant is to be fed.

The structure'of the actuatingmechanism and feeding means in Fig. 11 is the same as in Figs. 9, 1

l0 and 12,,except that a plug 188, of fibrous materialfis mounted in the upwardlyv extending portion 1320f the tubular member 128 and slid?- ably receives the plunger rod 168. The purpose of providing the plug 188is to prevent fluid from running out of the tubular member 132 from the enlargement 131 when the device is arranged with the axis of the plunger 168 in av horizontal direction. When the device is in such position the proximity of thecam member'1'3'7 to the en;

largement' 131 will cause the fluid. to be carried scribed in connection with the device shownrin Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6. In all the forms of the invention described the ball and disk clutch members operate in the same manner to cause rotation of the cam memher with the casing in one direction, upon even the slightest movement of the casing relative to the base member, and to hold said actuating cam 7 member from rotation with the casing in a reverse i arm 192, and mounted thereon, a pipe section 203 to the base.

direction, the holding means operating upon the slightest reverse rotation of the casing relative Thus a metering fluid feeding device is provided. Furthermore, due to the relatively small cross-section of the end of the plunger'rod in all forms of the invention to the size of the spring utilized for projecting the same in a feeding direction, a very high pressure of the fluid fed by means of the device will be obtained.

Referring now' to Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive, in Fig..13 the steering mechanism and the lubricating system of anautomobile are shown diagrammatically, the central reservoir for the 1ubri-- cant being designated by the numeral 190. The said reservoir is mounted at any convenient point on the automobile having the frame member 191, upon which the pitman arm 192 is mounted for swingingmovement, said pitman arm being con-- nected with the drag link 193 by means of a ball and socket joint having the socket member 194 provided on said'drag link and theball 194'provided on the pitman arm. The opposite, orfront, end of the drag link has the steering lever195 connected therewith, said lever 195 being connected by means of the link 196 with a similar lever 195' on the opposite side, of the automobile. The lever 195 has the yoke 197' provided thereon carrying the stub axle 198 said yoke being pivotally' mounted on the steering knuckle 199 provided on the front axle 200, as will be described more in detail below. The portion of the lubri cant distributing system illustrated in Fig. 13, comprises a pipe 201 extending from the reser voir 190, and fixed relatively to the frame of the automobile, a pipe section 202 movable with the mounted on and movable with the drag link 193, a'pipe section 204 carried by and movable with the lever 195, andhaving a branch 205-leading to the other side of the automobile through the pipe 206 carried by and movable with the link 196. Asthe piping system on both sides of the automobile used to lubricate the steering mechanism is duplicated, only that on the the side thereof will be here referred to, the pipe 207 being carried bythe yoke 197 whichv is a part of the lever 195 and thus being fixed relatively to the pipe 204, and the piping system on the oppothe pipe section 201 is connected with the casing portion 208 of one of the'fluid feeding'devices such as previously described,and that the pipe section 202 is'connected with the base portion 209 'of said feeding device, said base portion being mounted on the shaft 210upon which the arm 192 is non-rotatably mounted, said shaft rotating in the bearing 211. The fluid feeding device thus provides a swivel connection between the pipe sections 201 and202 and is also actuated to produce a feeding action such as previously described, dueto the movement of the base 209 relative to the casing 208, the base oscillating with the shaft 210 and the'casing' being stationary relative to the frame 191. The lubricant is thus fed from the base 209 through the conduit 212 to the bearings 211. The pipe section 202 is connected at the other end thereof with the base 213 of the fluid feeding member mounted on the other end of the arm 192, which base is fixed in position on said arm, a conduit 214 leadingfrom said base to the ball and socket jointto'lubricate the and the pipe sections 203 and 204 respectively and feed lubricant to the bearings at opposite ends of the drag link. While'the fluid feeding devices described above are shown as being provided with one pipe connection leading into the casing and the other into the base portion thereof, any type of feeding means with any one of the feeding mechanisms described herein may be used be tween the pipe sections, the type used being dependent upon what may be necessary to obtain the desired feeding action and the desired connection between the pipe sections.

fteferring now to Fig. 15, the pipe section 204 is connected with the base 223 of the next feeding device by means of the union 218 and the pipe 207 is similarly connected with said base by means of the union 219. In order to obtain the. desired -movement of the casing 220 relative to the base to produce the feeding action of the device the 'arm221 is provided thereon, which is connected through the spring 222 with the steering knuckle 199. the'knuc'kle 199 will cause the said feeding device to feedlubricant to the bearing in the member 197 for'the pin 224 rotating with the knuckle 199. In this case no swivel for the pipe line was needed and accordingly no feeding device of the type that acts as a swivel was used. Thepipe 207 is connected at the other end thereof with the casing. 225 .of a feeding device, the base 226 of which' ismount'ed on the pin 224 and from which a conduit 227 leads to'the upper bearing for said pin in the yoke 197.

The lubricant is supplied from the reservoir 190 to the various pipe sections at avery low pressure, and may be supplied by gravity. Thus the oil pressure in the pipesections 201, 202-, 203, 204,

.205, 206 and 207 is very'low, and may be less than one pound, if desired. The various feeding devices supply the lubricant to the various bearings at a much higher pressure, however, and this may be varied according to the conditions encountered as desired,.by variation in proportions of the inte nal mechanism of the feeding device, such as the strength of the spring and the cross sectional size of the plunger used; In a similar Thus relative movement of the yoke 197 and manner the quantity fed with each feeding movement of the plunger may be varied, by adjusting the eifective stroke of the plunger. In any case, however, the feeding is in proportion to the relative movement of the parts carrying the base and casing members, or the parts with which said members are connected to produce relative movement between said casing and base.

A plurality of different parts to be lubricated may thus be supplied from a single central reservoir at a low pressure and the lubricant fed thereto at different rates and at different much higher pressures dependent upon the pressure and quantity of lubricant needed. This is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 18, in which the pipe line made'up of the sections 230, 231, 232, 233, 234 and 235 supplies lubricant at a low pressure, of say less than one pound, to the feeding devices 236, 237, 238, 239, 240 and as many more asmay be desired, and the feeding devices are so constructed and adjusted that the feeding'device 236 supplies two drops per hour to the parts it lubricates at a pressure of 1500 pounds per square inch, while the feeding device 237 supplies forty drops an hour to the parts it lubricates at a pressure of 2500 pounds per square inch. In a similar manner the feeding device 238 may be provided to supply forty drops per hour at 15.0 pounds per square inch, the device 239 thirty drops per hour at fifty pounds per square inch and the device 240 two drops per hour at 500 pounds per square inch. These quantities and pressures are merely illustrative, but by proper arrangement and adjustment of the feeding mechanisms described above this range of pressure and quantity can be obtained with'said feeding devices, and the supply of fluid will be supplied at the same low substantially uniform pressure to said feeding devices. One particularly great advantage of this arrangement is that the presence of any small, or even relatively large, leaks in the pipe line will not put the feeding devices out of operation as is the case where the lubricant is fed under a high pressure through the pipe line to the parts to be lubricated.

Having thus described our invention what we desire to claim and secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a plurality of parts to be lubricated of means for lubricating said parts comprising a lubricant reservoir, independently actuated feeding devices for supplying lubricant at a high pressure to said parts, and means for for supplying lubricant at a high pressure to said parts, each of said feeding devices operating independently of all the other feeding devices, and means for supplying lubricant from said reservoir at low pressure to said feeding devices.

4. The combination with a plurality of parts to be lubricated, ofa lubricant reservoir, a low pressure pipe line leading from said reservoir and independently actuated lubricant feeding devices for supplying lubricant at a higher pressure to said parts, interposed in and supplied with lubricant by said pipe line.

5. The combination with a plurality-of parts to be lubricated, of a lubricant reservoir, a low pressure pipe line leading from said reservoir and lubricant feeding devices for supplying lubricant at a higher pressure to said parts, interposed in and supplied with lubricant by said pipe line, each of said feeding devices being operated independently of the other feeding devices whereby said feeding devices are adapted to supply different predetermined quantities of lubricant at different predetermined pressures to said parts.

6. The combination with a plurality of parts to be lubricated andcomprising pairs of relatively movable members, of means for lubricating said parts comprising a lubricant reservoir, feeding devices for supplying lubricant at high pressure to said parts, each of said feeding devices comprising a reciprocable means and means for reciprocating the same comprising a clutch mechanism connected with one of said relatively movable members of each pair and-operating to move said reciprocable means upon slight relative movement of said members, and means for supplying lubricant at relatively low pressure to said lubricating devices from said reservoir.

7. The combination with a pair of relatively movable members having engaging surfaces, of 1' means for lubricating the engaging faces of said sure to said members, each comprising a ball clutch mechanism connected with one of said members and operating to move said reciprocable means upon slight relative movement of said members, and means for supplying lubricant to said feeding device from said reservoir at a relatively low pressure.

8. The combination with a plurality of movable parts to be lubricated, of means for lubricating said parts comprising a lubricant reservoir, individual feeding devices associated with said parts,

each feeding device being controlled to feed lubricant at high pressure to the parts with which the same is associated by the movement of said parts, and means for supplying lubricant at relatively low pressure to said lubricating devices from said reservoir. 1

9. The combination with a plurality of movable parts to be lubricated, of means for lubricating said parts comprising a lubricant reservoir, individual feeding devices associated with said parts, each feeding device being independently con trolled to feed lubricant at high pressure to the parts with which the same is associated by the movement of said parts, and means for supplying lubricant at relatively low pressure to said lubricating devices from said reservoir.

I members comprising a lubricant reservoir, a feeding device for supplying lubricant at high pres- 10. The combination with a pair of relatively movable members having engaging surfaces, of means for lubricating the engaging surfaces of a feeding device for supplying lubricant at high pressure to said surfaces comprising controlling means actuated by relative movement of said movable members, and a conduit for supplying lubricant from said reservoir to said feeding device at a relatively low pressure.

11. The combination with a plurality of pairs of relatively movable parts to be lubricated, of a lubricant reservoir, a low pressure pipe line leading from said reservoir, independent individual lubricant feeding devices for each pair of said members, comprising a lubricant reservoir, I

lubricant by said pipe line, and means for independently controlling the feeding movements of saidfeeding devices by the relative'movement of the pairof parts with which each feeding device is associated.

12. The combination with a plurality of pairs of relatively movable parts to be lubricated, of a lubricant reservoir, a low pressure pipe line leading from said reservoir, independent individual lubricant feeding-devices for supplying lubricant at high pressure to each pair of movable parts interposed in and supplied with lubricant by said pipe line, and means for independently controlling the feeding movements of said feeding devices by the relative movement of'the pair of parts with which each feeding device is associated.

13. The combination with a plurality of parts to be lubricated, of means for lubricating said parts comprising a lubricant reservoir, independently'actuated feeding devices, means for supplying lubricant at low pressure to said feeding de vices from said reservoir, each feeding device being provided with means for controlling the feeding movement thereof entirely independent of all the other feeding devices, and of the pressure at which thelubricant is supplied to said feeding devices. v

movable parts interposed in and supplied with 14. In a lubricating system. a reservoir, a low pressure conduit extending from said reservoir, comprising relatively movable sections, high pressure lubricant feeding devices interposed between the sections of said conduit and supplied with lubricant from said low pressure conduit, and means'for actuating said feeding devices controlled by the relative movement of adjoining sections of said conduit.

15. In a lubricating system, a reservoir, pressure conduit extending from said reservoir, comprising relativelymovablesections, and high pressure lubricant feeding devices supplied with lubricant by said conduit interposed between the sections of said conduit, comprising means for :f

tirely independently of all the other of said feed- 1. ing devices.

CHARLES JAMES EAcooK. CLAUDE H. CLAUSER.

alow 

